Loveland police: Investigator shot his dad

Loveland Police Department Officer Chuck Hofkamp, middle, lets authorities in and out of the scene of a shooting in the 900 block of Daphne Drive Tuesday morning. (Photo by Madeline Novey)
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Madeline Novey
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Loveland police believe coroner's investigator Matthew Canaga shot his father during a family disturbance inside the son's home Tuesday.

Details of what led to the fatal shooting have not been released, but detectives are looking at whether the younger Canaga, 25, was defending himself or others.

"We are being cautious to investigate the defense scenario," said Lt. Tim Brown of the Loveland Police Department. "This is not something we want to rush. We want to make sure we are thorough.

"The investigators are trying to be neutral fact finders."

Canaga is a part-time investigator for the Larimer County Coroner's Office, where he has worked first as a temporary then a permanent employee since 2009. He is currently on paid administrative leave.

"He wasn't actually on duty, so it was more of a domestic thing that was not work-related," said Dianne Fairman, deputy county coroner.

"At the same time, we're not having him come back to the office until everything has been cleared."

Matthew Canaga is a post-certified Colorado officer, meaning he can carry a weapon while on duty, but he chose not to, Fairman said. Coroner's investigators who are sworn officers are typically also sworn in as deputies by the county sheriff but are not issued service weapons.

Canaga was to be sworn in by the sheriff but had not yet because of timing issues, Fairman said.

His father, 51-year-old Patrick Canaga, owned two homes right next to each other, 903 and 907 Daphne Drive in southwest Loveland, according to property records.

The elder Canaga lived at 903, while Matthew and his family lived at 907, which is where the shooting occurred, according to police.

Investigators have not revealed what led up to the shooting, but Brown said they believe only one shot was fired, hitting Patrick Canaga in the chest. After being shot, Patrick Canaga then fled the home and collapsed outside, which is where paramedics found him upon arrival minutes later.

Medics rushed Patrick Canaga to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, where he was pronounced dead about noon, according to police.

Authorities know that Patrick and Matthew Canaga were in the home together when the shooting occurred, but they still are not confirming whether anyone else was inside. No one else was injured.

Because Canaga works for the Larimer County Coroner's Office, a medical examiner from Denver completed the autopsy, which was witnessed by a Loveland officer and a Weld County coroner's investigator.

Both Loveland police and 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office representatives responded to the scene.

Loveland police are now collecting evidence and statements, which they ultimately will present to the district attorney. Prosecutors will decide whether to file charges or, if not, explain why the shooting does not warrant charges.

The coroner's office is waiting for that decision before deciding whether, or when, Canaga can return to work. He will remain on leave until that process is complete, but because he was not on duty, it is unclear how long his leave will be paid, Fairman said.